Soon the caucus' start, and the Republican Party has a boat-load of people who want to, theoretically, be President of the United States.
But, let's be real. The main battle cry is "Beat Obama" or it's corollary, "Beat Obamacare".
Not "Jobs"; not "Economy" (remember "It's the Economy, Stupid!"?); not Security or any of the other things everybody seems for but just can't get to from here.
As a Republican, I'm embarrassed. I can't say I'd vote for any of them.
Mitt Romney: To me, he comes off as a doo-fus. Sorry Mitt, I liked your Dad, but you just did NOT get his genes. Oh, yeah, you LOOK like him, but your thought processes are.....well, I don't know WHERE they are. Other than looking like the epitome of a Republican Running for President, I just don't get much else from him. Some say he has vacillated and compromised. Well, he HAS been presented with information and that MAY have caused him to changed his mind of some things (which is not necessarily bad) to give him that label. But, sorry, he just seems too shifty to me (like John Kasich).
Newt Gingerich: Really. A name like NEWT? A Lizard? Well, a well-fed one at least. To me, he has the best chance (but then so does an iceball vs snowball in Hell). You may not like him, but you tend to know where you stand with him and where he stands. Personally, I don't like him because it's all about him.....he does everything that will help him and photo-ops the rest. But I KNOW he's going to be like that. At least he's consistent.
Bachmann: Who? She came out of nowhere. You would think that being female I would jump on her side, but she reminds me of a ship without a rudder. She seems to wander all over the place.....and her facts, well, I don't know where she gets some of them. Too much like Palin for me.....only maybe less likable.
Ron Paul: Now this was a guy who really had some good ideas. He just doesn't know how to implement them and doesn't seem to have a plan. Oh he says he does, but its just all words and no substance. I agree with your ideas, Mr Paul, but that's just not enough. I don't go for Obama's "Jobs Bill" for the same reason.
Herman Cain: OMG what can you say about THIS dude? Here is a man who has drunk the Kool-Aid from the Power Can. From the time he hit the scene, I shivered from the slime, although I couldn't figure out why. Here is a man obsessed with power and not afraid to use it. And if that means getting the ladies, well, God wants him to have them. Just like Bakker and Jim Jones and David Koresh and....and.... OK, that's too far.....let's just say Bakker and the other more legitimate evangelists who got caught. He really does seem to think that it's all okay, since he's a pastor and does so many wonderful things for people (what those things are, I haven't a clue). He's flamboyant and entertaining (so is Carson Kressley) and I definitely feel he'll ramrod through anything he wants to.
The rest: I don't even remember their names (you'd think I would after all the debates). But they just seem like filler. Nice guys, but filler. Nothing special to offer. They play the straight men to the comedians.
Hey, but then again, maybe that's JUST what we need! Someone not so OBVIOUSLY bought by lobbyists, businesses or other countries.
After all, the Republicans just want to beat Obama. If he's doing such a poor job, then maybe that's EXACTLY what we need.....a dark horse. We can use the sympathy or underdog principal to grab the Presidency back!!!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Supercommittee Failed
Oh my!
The best of the best of the best, Sir! has failed to come up with any kind of compromise on the National Deficit. Half Democrats; half Republicans; people considered to at least have a clue....and neither would give in from their Party's line. (Sounds scary to me, if you think about all the Party Lines that have been made throughout history.....most of them creating more problems than solutions)
Well, DUH.
As long as those in Congress are going to be the so-called "fixers" of the things Congress has messed up, it's not going to get fixed. They all are (and rightfully so) going to keep their perks; keep their pet projects and push for what they feel is right.
So, what to do?
DON'T USE THEM!
All Congresspeople, all Administration people and all the so-called "experts" have their own agenda. It's what got them to where they are in the first place. Whether it's Lobbyist pressure, constituent pressure (though not many seem to be too concerned about THAT, even though the voters are what keep them there); or their own moral/ethical viewpoint, they have an agenda to keep what THEY have and slice what THE OTHER GUYS have.
So here's my suggestion Mr. Obama.
Find some not-big-city CPA's and let them go to it. Give them all the information they need/want (including the invoices for the $10,000 hammers and $100,000 desks) and let them roll to a balanced budget. See, they won't care if you want to remodel your office for the 3rd time this year...they'll see it as a an extraneous expense that isn't necessary. They'll look for LEGAL expenses and tell you to pay up when you over-extended them. They won't let you go on a Bahama's junket on Big Drug Company tickets, then use the receipts as "proof" that you need to be reimbursed (also called "double dipping").
They are going to question some things that just don't make sense (like, why does it cost an American Senior 100X or more to get the same meds they sell in Canada for $20, or Mexico for $4?).
They are not likely to be real big on slashing social programs to allow big business to get bigger. Nor are they likely to severely penalize big business for being able to make big bucks. Then, again, they ARE likely to spot the loopholes that need to be closed up so that big business DOES pay what it should.
Heck, you can even let Suzie Orman do it. She'll tell you..."no you can't do that boyfriend; YOU HAVE NO MONEY!"
The Federal Budget is huge.....and complicated. But there are a ton of things that can at least be looked at.
Take farms for example. Not all of them, but a number of them. They get stipends for NOT farming certain amounts of acreage. At one time, it was a necessarity, because it artificially kept grain prices up. But now, EVERYTHING is going up because NOT ENOUGH grain is being produced...in an attempt to "go green" and use corn for fuels, there is a shortage (read price increase) of corn for feeding cows, chickens, horses, deer and using in basic food products (HELLO, where do you think "high fructose CORN syrup" comes from?). So we subsidize farmers to NOT grow what we need. Now that worked back when....when too many people produced grain that was basically used for feeding animals (including us). But it's not a part of the equation any more. So it needs to be looked at.
Welfare. One of those necessary evils. If you need it, it can be a safety net. But if you're just a lazy slob, it's an "entitlement". There are no jobs; people are STILL losing jobs (despite what the "experts" say) so trying to teach someone a trade that STILL can't be used because nobody can pay for it, isn't working. So, we need to take a real strong look at what CAN be done.
Big Corporations. They have Lots and Lots of loopholes they can sneak into. And they have lots and lots of CPA's who are willing to find and exploit those loopholes. And they can always find some statistics to back themselves up. Well, maybe that needs to be explored a lot more. These guys seem to be able to use these so much better than the Small Businesses.....and that makes it suspect.
Small Business. Needs to be left alone. They are either doing things right, or they are folding. They are NOT getting bailouts, handouts or perks. THEY are true backbone of our economy.
And what's wrong with Trump's idea of the billionaires helping out? Heck, Gates, Buffet and others are on that page. Why can't this be explored.
So c'mon President Obama. Look at what make this country great to begin with and go back to it. Use the "little guy" to reinvent this country. Because all the 'Big Honchos" in Congress are just going to destroy it. And when it DOES fall apart (and we WILL have a crash at some point, we've only delayed the inevitable) it will be, once again, the "little guys" who pick it back up and trudge on.
The best of the best of the best, Sir! has failed to come up with any kind of compromise on the National Deficit. Half Democrats; half Republicans; people considered to at least have a clue....and neither would give in from their Party's line. (Sounds scary to me, if you think about all the Party Lines that have been made throughout history.....most of them creating more problems than solutions)
Well, DUH.
As long as those in Congress are going to be the so-called "fixers" of the things Congress has messed up, it's not going to get fixed. They all are (and rightfully so) going to keep their perks; keep their pet projects and push for what they feel is right.
So, what to do?
DON'T USE THEM!
All Congresspeople, all Administration people and all the so-called "experts" have their own agenda. It's what got them to where they are in the first place. Whether it's Lobbyist pressure, constituent pressure (though not many seem to be too concerned about THAT, even though the voters are what keep them there); or their own moral/ethical viewpoint, they have an agenda to keep what THEY have and slice what THE OTHER GUYS have.
So here's my suggestion Mr. Obama.
Find some not-big-city CPA's and let them go to it. Give them all the information they need/want (including the invoices for the $10,000 hammers and $100,000 desks) and let them roll to a balanced budget. See, they won't care if you want to remodel your office for the 3rd time this year...they'll see it as a an extraneous expense that isn't necessary. They'll look for LEGAL expenses and tell you to pay up when you over-extended them. They won't let you go on a Bahama's junket on Big Drug Company tickets, then use the receipts as "proof" that you need to be reimbursed (also called "double dipping").
They are going to question some things that just don't make sense (like, why does it cost an American Senior 100X or more to get the same meds they sell in Canada for $20, or Mexico for $4?).
They are not likely to be real big on slashing social programs to allow big business to get bigger. Nor are they likely to severely penalize big business for being able to make big bucks. Then, again, they ARE likely to spot the loopholes that need to be closed up so that big business DOES pay what it should.
Heck, you can even let Suzie Orman do it. She'll tell you..."no you can't do that boyfriend; YOU HAVE NO MONEY!"
The Federal Budget is huge.....and complicated. But there are a ton of things that can at least be looked at.
Take farms for example. Not all of them, but a number of them. They get stipends for NOT farming certain amounts of acreage. At one time, it was a necessarity, because it artificially kept grain prices up. But now, EVERYTHING is going up because NOT ENOUGH grain is being produced...in an attempt to "go green" and use corn for fuels, there is a shortage (read price increase) of corn for feeding cows, chickens, horses, deer and using in basic food products (HELLO, where do you think "high fructose CORN syrup" comes from?). So we subsidize farmers to NOT grow what we need. Now that worked back when....when too many people produced grain that was basically used for feeding animals (including us). But it's not a part of the equation any more. So it needs to be looked at.
Welfare. One of those necessary evils. If you need it, it can be a safety net. But if you're just a lazy slob, it's an "entitlement". There are no jobs; people are STILL losing jobs (despite what the "experts" say) so trying to teach someone a trade that STILL can't be used because nobody can pay for it, isn't working. So, we need to take a real strong look at what CAN be done.
Big Corporations. They have Lots and Lots of loopholes they can sneak into. And they have lots and lots of CPA's who are willing to find and exploit those loopholes. And they can always find some statistics to back themselves up. Well, maybe that needs to be explored a lot more. These guys seem to be able to use these so much better than the Small Businesses.....and that makes it suspect.
Small Business. Needs to be left alone. They are either doing things right, or they are folding. They are NOT getting bailouts, handouts or perks. THEY are true backbone of our economy.
And what's wrong with Trump's idea of the billionaires helping out? Heck, Gates, Buffet and others are on that page. Why can't this be explored.
So c'mon President Obama. Look at what make this country great to begin with and go back to it. Use the "little guy" to reinvent this country. Because all the 'Big Honchos" in Congress are just going to destroy it. And when it DOES fall apart (and we WILL have a crash at some point, we've only delayed the inevitable) it will be, once again, the "little guys" who pick it back up and trudge on.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Politics
Another November political season has ended.
Yea! Ohio defeated SB5. This was a really bad bill in many ways. Of course they picked on the one thing that would get people riled up....and lost.
Once again they went after the people they should not be going after....fire, police, nurses and teachers. I mean, come on. Why would you go after the same people who have your life, property and kids in their hands? Can you spell S-T-U-P-I-D?
These are NOT the people raking in the big bucks!!!
In fact, the people who ARE raking in the big bucks had already made sure that THEY would not have to worry about it. Yeah, those whose salaries are that 43% higher that was talked about....those who do NOT pay into pension funds or health care had ALREADY made their loopholes.....right in the same bill that went after the ones who do. Yeah, I'm a Firefighter/Paramedic. I pay 10% into my pension (though Mr. Kasich doesn't seem to think so, although he also WANTS my pension money for his Ponzi schemes); my co-workers pay at least 15% into health insurance (some even more). However, Mr. Kasich, his staff, most administrators both State and Municipal do NOT pay into anything, but get nice fat pensions anyway.
But the experts say.....
Who are these guys? How did they become experts? And why did they forget the algorithms in Economics 101?
Capitalism = supply vs. demand.
You can build a ton of cars but if no one buys them, throwing money at a corporation to continue making products no one buys just does not make economic sense.
But the experts say.....
Stockholders/shareholders need to be reimbursed for their investment. OK, I agree.
BUT....if the guy who builds the product cannot buy the product because all the money is going to shareholders, then HELLO...supply vs demand strikes again!
Let's try something simple. Pay the guy who produces. That's why Unions were created (but we've already gone there). The guy who produces is the guy who will buy something to continue to cycle. Take out the actual producer, there's less people to buy the product. This is NOT rocket science!
I'm thinking that maybe, just maybe, it's time that we put in a bunch of people who are NOT incumbents; have no history of "you can't do that"; are not beholden to the lobbyists (anybody see 60 Minutes last week? AWESOME interview with a lobbyist); and are willing to just get it done.
Because, OBVIOUSLY, the ones already in Congress or State Houses are NOT willing to get it done.
Yea! Ohio defeated SB5. This was a really bad bill in many ways. Of course they picked on the one thing that would get people riled up....and lost.
Once again they went after the people they should not be going after....fire, police, nurses and teachers. I mean, come on. Why would you go after the same people who have your life, property and kids in their hands? Can you spell S-T-U-P-I-D?
These are NOT the people raking in the big bucks!!!
In fact, the people who ARE raking in the big bucks had already made sure that THEY would not have to worry about it. Yeah, those whose salaries are that 43% higher that was talked about....those who do NOT pay into pension funds or health care had ALREADY made their loopholes.....right in the same bill that went after the ones who do. Yeah, I'm a Firefighter/Paramedic. I pay 10% into my pension (though Mr. Kasich doesn't seem to think so, although he also WANTS my pension money for his Ponzi schemes); my co-workers pay at least 15% into health insurance (some even more). However, Mr. Kasich, his staff, most administrators both State and Municipal do NOT pay into anything, but get nice fat pensions anyway.
But the experts say.....
Who are these guys? How did they become experts? And why did they forget the algorithms in Economics 101?
Capitalism = supply vs. demand.
You can build a ton of cars but if no one buys them, throwing money at a corporation to continue making products no one buys just does not make economic sense.
But the experts say.....
Stockholders/shareholders need to be reimbursed for their investment. OK, I agree.
BUT....if the guy who builds the product cannot buy the product because all the money is going to shareholders, then HELLO...supply vs demand strikes again!
Let's try something simple. Pay the guy who produces. That's why Unions were created (but we've already gone there). The guy who produces is the guy who will buy something to continue to cycle. Take out the actual producer, there's less people to buy the product. This is NOT rocket science!
I'm thinking that maybe, just maybe, it's time that we put in a bunch of people who are NOT incumbents; have no history of "you can't do that"; are not beholden to the lobbyists (anybody see 60 Minutes last week? AWESOME interview with a lobbyist); and are willing to just get it done.
Because, OBVIOUSLY, the ones already in Congress or State Houses are NOT willing to get it done.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Bullying....now more than ever
Is it just me? or does it seem that bullying has gotten everywhere?
I'm not talking about the normal school bullying that goes on (I don't think there will ever really be a way to totally curb it). I'm talking about the way adults act, even when they know better. And some of the biggest abusers have been to so-called "Sensitivity Training" (which tends to offend me more than help).
I've been watching it grow....both in the amount of places I see it, and the meanness of it. I can be in many different "worlds", if you will, as I spend a lot of time in public places as well as private. I don't remember it being this bad, even five years ago.
I watch bosses bully their employees; employees bully other employees; groups bullying others; even groups bullying among themselves!
What happened to us? When did we get so insecure about ourselves that we stoop to this behavior. Because all it really is, is our own insecurity...so we put on the bravado and tear every one else down so we look better than they are. The meanness of it only relates to our own cowardice. Yeah, that's right.....bullies are basically cowards. They rarely "fight" one on one. And they are just sooooo proud that they have swung that bat as hard as they can on someone else.
I've seen bosses/supervisors that harangue employees and literally threaten to fire emplyees that don't go along with whatever it is the supervisor wants. I've watched people who have been passed over strike out at someone who had nothing to do with their situation.....except one thing......that victim is what the bully fears that he really is. I hear people make snide comments about some poor soul (OK, we ALL do that to some extent, me included)but then blind-side the victim because they feel comfortable with the group they are with to do so. Or maybe they talk big when their victims aren't around, then try to back-peddle when confronted (or, even funnier is when they make statements around their victim that just prove what they've been saying behind their backs).
I'm used to seeing/hearing a lot of verbal abuse.....you can't do what I do for a living and not see/hear it. Lots of smack-talking and big talk. But now it seems that it's gotten much more mean. Mean to the point of being right on that edge of reaching out and physically hitting someone. And that's scary.
I know I've felt the same about them. There have been times when I see what is happening and wanting to go beyond confrontation and just clock them upside the head....of being so angry with what I see that I want to strike them. It would be easy for me.....I'm not a little person. What stops me is knowing that such an action would make me the same as them....that I would be the bully; even though I might consider myself more like an avenging angel. Avenging Angel.....what an oxymoron. Angels aren't supposed to be like that.....except maybe Michael.
It just seems that the bullies are everywhere you turn, where before there were not as many of them. Or maybe they just weren't so bold.
I wonder if all our technology hasn't, in many ways, made us so socially isolated that we are insecure in our dealings with others....even if those dealings are limited....that we are so worried that we will not measure up. So we knock them down so we look better. The sad thing is, we really don't look better. We just look stupid. And we're too stupid to see it.
I'm not talking about the normal school bullying that goes on (I don't think there will ever really be a way to totally curb it). I'm talking about the way adults act, even when they know better. And some of the biggest abusers have been to so-called "Sensitivity Training" (which tends to offend me more than help).
I've been watching it grow....both in the amount of places I see it, and the meanness of it. I can be in many different "worlds", if you will, as I spend a lot of time in public places as well as private. I don't remember it being this bad, even five years ago.
I watch bosses bully their employees; employees bully other employees; groups bullying others; even groups bullying among themselves!
What happened to us? When did we get so insecure about ourselves that we stoop to this behavior. Because all it really is, is our own insecurity...so we put on the bravado and tear every one else down so we look better than they are. The meanness of it only relates to our own cowardice. Yeah, that's right.....bullies are basically cowards. They rarely "fight" one on one. And they are just sooooo proud that they have swung that bat as hard as they can on someone else.
I've seen bosses/supervisors that harangue employees and literally threaten to fire emplyees that don't go along with whatever it is the supervisor wants. I've watched people who have been passed over strike out at someone who had nothing to do with their situation.....except one thing......that victim is what the bully fears that he really is. I hear people make snide comments about some poor soul (OK, we ALL do that to some extent, me included)but then blind-side the victim because they feel comfortable with the group they are with to do so. Or maybe they talk big when their victims aren't around, then try to back-peddle when confronted (or, even funnier is when they make statements around their victim that just prove what they've been saying behind their backs).
I'm used to seeing/hearing a lot of verbal abuse.....you can't do what I do for a living and not see/hear it. Lots of smack-talking and big talk. But now it seems that it's gotten much more mean. Mean to the point of being right on that edge of reaching out and physically hitting someone. And that's scary.
I know I've felt the same about them. There have been times when I see what is happening and wanting to go beyond confrontation and just clock them upside the head....of being so angry with what I see that I want to strike them. It would be easy for me.....I'm not a little person. What stops me is knowing that such an action would make me the same as them....that I would be the bully; even though I might consider myself more like an avenging angel. Avenging Angel.....what an oxymoron. Angels aren't supposed to be like that.....except maybe Michael.
It just seems that the bullies are everywhere you turn, where before there were not as many of them. Or maybe they just weren't so bold.
I wonder if all our technology hasn't, in many ways, made us so socially isolated that we are insecure in our dealings with others....even if those dealings are limited....that we are so worried that we will not measure up. So we knock them down so we look better. The sad thing is, we really don't look better. We just look stupid. And we're too stupid to see it.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Unions, Collective Bargaining, Wisconsin, Ohio, etc.
I'm not a Union person, as such.
And, I've been all over the board as to whether I'm for 'em or against 'em.
My Uncle was a Union Painter.....although when I was living with them, I really had no idea what that meant. Mom was a single parent who worked as a secretary and she was not in a union. She met and married a man who was a Boss at GM. So the only Union I ever really heard of in my young days was the UAW.....and they were, well, not so nice; in fact, they were overbearing and demanding. Some of them scared me as a young teen, so perhaps that skewed my ideas further.
Then I went to College and learned WHY the unions came into being....and I became sorta pro-union. Yet, I always had reservations.
I guess I never "got it". Unions happened because owners/bosses were so busy creating their little "kingdoms" that they forgot that those guys down at the bottom were the productive ones....the ones that created the things that made the owners rich. And the bosses treated them more like servants ("you'll do it and like it") than the real foundations of the companies.
Unions came into being to stop that. Good for them.
Then....THEY became the usurpers and high-muckety-mucks and got all righteous and mighty and, well, might makes right, doesn't it? They demanded....and demanded...and demanded. Until the the people who BUY the products couldn't afford it and the companies began to fail. Even though they really didn't fail as MUCH as they whined, the union bosses refused to give in and got all high and mighty. Eventually, it became obvious that the UNIONS BOSSES were just as "bad" as the owner/bosses....and THEY were creating their OWN little fiefdoms, surrounded by their henchmen and good-ol-boys. In other words.....they became EXACTLY what they had fought against.
And THAT'S where I don't get it. No one looks at the big picture any more. Not the "bosses" or the Union. They need each other, but each looks at the other as a parasite...something to push against.....something to "win" over losing.
But then, we have Wisconsin (and Ohio and a few other states), who are going after some unions...."public" unions....meaning these are people who have particular jobs that the state has contracted for that has their own pensions systems (and pretty good ones at that). Both Wisconsin and Ohio have chosen to go after teachers, firefighters and police unions. Dollar for dollar, these are the "cheapest" unions to go after. I would like to see them go after the UAW, for example, or really, ANY of the AFL-CIO unions. Nope.....they go after the little ones, figuring they won't be able to do as much pot-stirring. And, they can't. Except that NOW, they have bonded together.
Once again, I don't get it....this time from the legislature standpoint.
These people provide a service. A service everyone seems to need/want. We WANT the best for our kids. We WANT to be helped out of a jam. Teachers are at the point where they should get combat pay. People call for Fire/Rescue for just about everything (including things other departments are responsible for). And we all know that cops are moving targets out there. So why pick on these people? If Police and Fire live long enough (they tend not to), why shouldn't they have decent pensions. In fact, why doesn't EVERYBODY have decent pensions. After what some people give (and give up) it only seems fair.
Of course, there are the bad parts. It does seem that the unions will stand up for the lazy butt, ne'er do well, pain in the arse person, but the newer person who is trying and maybe just not quite able to lick the butt of the guy above enough is left to hang. If anything, THAT's where Unions get the bad rap. They pick and choose....and their choices are usually in favor or somebody's buddy, not for the right thing.
But, I still don't get it. Why, if you are whining that there are not enough teachers; and/or not enough GOOD teachers; would you go after those same people? Why do you mandate that they continue their education and get Master's Degrees in Education and then not compensate them for their time, effort and now their expertise? And then, try to take their chance for betterment away from them by getting rid of collective bargaining? Who wins? NOBODY!!!! And it's time the "guys in charge" figure it out.
Our society is a team society....like it or not. The Haves and Have-nots need to work together to get the best for both. This doesn't mean that the Have-nots are "entitled" to more....it just means that the Haves need to work with them better. Yeah, that's kind of a Utopian Society.....but not quite. But if we COULD all work together, everyone would have a stake in the answer.....not just be "lording it over" someone else.
And, I've been all over the board as to whether I'm for 'em or against 'em.
My Uncle was a Union Painter.....although when I was living with them, I really had no idea what that meant. Mom was a single parent who worked as a secretary and she was not in a union. She met and married a man who was a Boss at GM. So the only Union I ever really heard of in my young days was the UAW.....and they were, well, not so nice; in fact, they were overbearing and demanding. Some of them scared me as a young teen, so perhaps that skewed my ideas further.
Then I went to College and learned WHY the unions came into being....and I became sorta pro-union. Yet, I always had reservations.
I guess I never "got it". Unions happened because owners/bosses were so busy creating their little "kingdoms" that they forgot that those guys down at the bottom were the productive ones....the ones that created the things that made the owners rich. And the bosses treated them more like servants ("you'll do it and like it") than the real foundations of the companies.
Unions came into being to stop that. Good for them.
Then....THEY became the usurpers and high-muckety-mucks and got all righteous and mighty and, well, might makes right, doesn't it? They demanded....and demanded...and demanded. Until the the people who BUY the products couldn't afford it and the companies began to fail. Even though they really didn't fail as MUCH as they whined, the union bosses refused to give in and got all high and mighty. Eventually, it became obvious that the UNIONS BOSSES were just as "bad" as the owner/bosses....and THEY were creating their OWN little fiefdoms, surrounded by their henchmen and good-ol-boys. In other words.....they became EXACTLY what they had fought against.
And THAT'S where I don't get it. No one looks at the big picture any more. Not the "bosses" or the Union. They need each other, but each looks at the other as a parasite...something to push against.....something to "win" over losing.
But then, we have Wisconsin (and Ohio and a few other states), who are going after some unions...."public" unions....meaning these are people who have particular jobs that the state has contracted for that has their own pensions systems (and pretty good ones at that). Both Wisconsin and Ohio have chosen to go after teachers, firefighters and police unions. Dollar for dollar, these are the "cheapest" unions to go after. I would like to see them go after the UAW, for example, or really, ANY of the AFL-CIO unions. Nope.....they go after the little ones, figuring they won't be able to do as much pot-stirring. And, they can't. Except that NOW, they have bonded together.
Once again, I don't get it....this time from the legislature standpoint.
These people provide a service. A service everyone seems to need/want. We WANT the best for our kids. We WANT to be helped out of a jam. Teachers are at the point where they should get combat pay. People call for Fire/Rescue for just about everything (including things other departments are responsible for). And we all know that cops are moving targets out there. So why pick on these people? If Police and Fire live long enough (they tend not to), why shouldn't they have decent pensions. In fact, why doesn't EVERYBODY have decent pensions. After what some people give (and give up) it only seems fair.
Of course, there are the bad parts. It does seem that the unions will stand up for the lazy butt, ne'er do well, pain in the arse person, but the newer person who is trying and maybe just not quite able to lick the butt of the guy above enough is left to hang. If anything, THAT's where Unions get the bad rap. They pick and choose....and their choices are usually in favor or somebody's buddy, not for the right thing.
But, I still don't get it. Why, if you are whining that there are not enough teachers; and/or not enough GOOD teachers; would you go after those same people? Why do you mandate that they continue their education and get Master's Degrees in Education and then not compensate them for their time, effort and now their expertise? And then, try to take their chance for betterment away from them by getting rid of collective bargaining? Who wins? NOBODY!!!! And it's time the "guys in charge" figure it out.
Our society is a team society....like it or not. The Haves and Have-nots need to work together to get the best for both. This doesn't mean that the Have-nots are "entitled" to more....it just means that the Haves need to work with them better. Yeah, that's kind of a Utopian Society.....but not quite. But if we COULD all work together, everyone would have a stake in the answer.....not just be "lording it over" someone else.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Grrrr...Insurance Companies
Everybody hates them. Yet you can't live without them.
Whether it's Life, Car, House or whatever, the Insurance racket will get you.
I know. My early business career was IN the insurance industry....first life, then personal property. So I learned early that this was a racket, but was also, in some ways, a necessity to prevent huge problems later. It was kinda like a savings account, but you put WAY more money into it (ultimately) than you would ever get out of it!!
I have put an awful lot of money into my present car insurer. But, then, we insure 2 trucks, a car, several trailers and a camper. I have made zero (0) claims on them. ZERO!
Then there came the wreck. A UPS truck didn't stop and the little care was impaled in its front tire lug nuts. Fortunately, my 2003 Hyundai Elantra did what it was supposed to and the seat belt and air bag prevented hubby from going through windshield or worse. The impact was so hard, that the mirror bar from the truck created a crease in the front hood!!
I have to admit that at first, they did a great job. They found a rental car for us, 2 days before Christmas. Awesome. But then.....they would only pay $20 a day for the car (which was less than the day rate); and they would only pay it for such and such a time. This we learned the hard way.....after they had offered us a payment we only had a week left for them to pay. The offer was pathetic. There was no way we could replace the car for $2,000. Yes, it was a 2003 Hyundai....and it had high miles......but all you can get for $2000 is a 2003 rust bucket with nasty looking stains and debatable care and even higher miles.
Oh, and there is the $250 deductible.
Say WHAT?
We are not at fault here. Why in the world are they acting like we got drunk, ran off the road and wrapped our car around a tree? After all this money we've put into them, why are we being low-balled? Aren't THEY suppose to advocate for us?
Oh, yeah.....UPS is ALSO their client.
How convenient....just use OUR policy to pay us off for something we did not do!!
So far, it's played out:
We have a $250 deductible
We can only recover the "cost" not the "replacement" of said vehicle, after all, that's what OUR policy covers
We had 1 week to find a vehicle after the first offer, because they were no longer going to fund the rental. Of course, this all happened during the end-of-year-push all car dealers were going through, plus holidays, etc. Hardly enough time to really be able to look around to see what was available.
In other words, we had, basically, 1 WEEK to find and acquire another vehicle!!
We did try. We went to the Bedford Auto Mile....we went to the Mentor area, and obviously tried locally. After what happened, we really wanted another Elantra.
The 2007 with 40,000 miles was $10,000. The 2009 was also $10,000 (with high miles) but was, unfortunately, sold right as we were going to negotiate for it. The used 2010's with 21,000 miles were $15,000 and the new 2011's were $18,000. One of the new 2010's was a manual transmission (which I like, but not in snow), but it was priced at $19,000 since it had leather seats (which I do NOT like). Those were in the "considered" group. There were others (like a 2005 priced at $12,000[go figure]) that had things I really didn't want (like leather seats).
Obviously $2,000 wasn't even going to be a good down payment!
It's not like we were looking for a new/different vehicle......it was not in the financial future. And, it's not like everyone has a few thousand dollars to toss around in this economy (if you have it, I give you kudos).
Yet we've been forced to go in a direction we did not want to go at a time we need to be financially conservative.
I can understand the company wanting to keep their costs low. But fair is fair.
I am being punished because an Insurance Company is playing games. Like the Ally commercial says...."even kids know when something is not right."
Whether it's Life, Car, House or whatever, the Insurance racket will get you.
I know. My early business career was IN the insurance industry....first life, then personal property. So I learned early that this was a racket, but was also, in some ways, a necessity to prevent huge problems later. It was kinda like a savings account, but you put WAY more money into it (ultimately) than you would ever get out of it!!
I have put an awful lot of money into my present car insurer. But, then, we insure 2 trucks, a car, several trailers and a camper. I have made zero (0) claims on them. ZERO!
Then there came the wreck. A UPS truck didn't stop and the little care was impaled in its front tire lug nuts. Fortunately, my 2003 Hyundai Elantra did what it was supposed to and the seat belt and air bag prevented hubby from going through windshield or worse. The impact was so hard, that the mirror bar from the truck created a crease in the front hood!!
I have to admit that at first, they did a great job. They found a rental car for us, 2 days before Christmas. Awesome. But then.....they would only pay $20 a day for the car (which was less than the day rate); and they would only pay it for such and such a time. This we learned the hard way.....after they had offered us a payment we only had a week left for them to pay. The offer was pathetic. There was no way we could replace the car for $2,000. Yes, it was a 2003 Hyundai....and it had high miles......but all you can get for $2000 is a 2003 rust bucket with nasty looking stains and debatable care and even higher miles.
Oh, and there is the $250 deductible.
Say WHAT?
We are not at fault here. Why in the world are they acting like we got drunk, ran off the road and wrapped our car around a tree? After all this money we've put into them, why are we being low-balled? Aren't THEY suppose to advocate for us?
Oh, yeah.....UPS is ALSO their client.
How convenient....just use OUR policy to pay us off for something we did not do!!
So far, it's played out:
We have a $250 deductible
We can only recover the "cost" not the "replacement" of said vehicle, after all, that's what OUR policy covers
We had 1 week to find a vehicle after the first offer, because they were no longer going to fund the rental. Of course, this all happened during the end-of-year-push all car dealers were going through, plus holidays, etc. Hardly enough time to really be able to look around to see what was available.
In other words, we had, basically, 1 WEEK to find and acquire another vehicle!!
We did try. We went to the Bedford Auto Mile....we went to the Mentor area, and obviously tried locally. After what happened, we really wanted another Elantra.
The 2007 with 40,000 miles was $10,000. The 2009 was also $10,000 (with high miles) but was, unfortunately, sold right as we were going to negotiate for it. The used 2010's with 21,000 miles were $15,000 and the new 2011's were $18,000. One of the new 2010's was a manual transmission (which I like, but not in snow), but it was priced at $19,000 since it had leather seats (which I do NOT like). Those were in the "considered" group. There were others (like a 2005 priced at $12,000[go figure]) that had things I really didn't want (like leather seats).
Obviously $2,000 wasn't even going to be a good down payment!
It's not like we were looking for a new/different vehicle......it was not in the financial future. And, it's not like everyone has a few thousand dollars to toss around in this economy (if you have it, I give you kudos).
Yet we've been forced to go in a direction we did not want to go at a time we need to be financially conservative.
I can understand the company wanting to keep their costs low. But fair is fair.
I am being punished because an Insurance Company is playing games. Like the Ally commercial says...."even kids know when something is not right."
Saturday, January 1, 2011
OH MY GOD, IT SNOWED!!
What is it with people?
It snowed in NYC. OK, so it's not normal for NYC to get dumped on. Life gets a bit messed up. But, Gee Whiz, gang....what's with all the whining?
Yeah, I live in the county (my choice).
I live in the SNOW BELT of Ohio.
We get dumped on for 5 months out of the year.
It's not unusual for us to get 1, 2, 3 FEET at a time.
And, yes, we get snowed in.
We ALSO lose power, heat and water.
I didn't hear about THAT from NYC.
I heard how the busses weren't running, the garbage wasn't picked up and EMS/Fire couldn't get through streets.
And I heard the same remarks from CLEVELANDERS when THEY got dumped on.
Well, EXCUUUUUUUSE ME!
I saw the videos. Cars stuck, traffic gridlocked, it was a mess. And I sympathize.
But....HELLO.....
Plows can't plow when there are abandoned cars all over the streets.
Cities have lots and lots of streets, and when it snows THAT hard, the plows can't keep up. Heck, WE have that problem too! and we don't have that many roads. They attempt to keep the main roads open so that Fire/EMS CAN get close enough to people in need and get them to the hospital. And there are times that people die because they "chose the wrong time" to get sick.
As a Firefighter/Paramedic, I know. I know how it feels from BOTH sides. There is NOTHING more frustrating than knowing someone is in bad shape, but you can't get there, or if you DO, you end up getting stuck, or instead of a 5 minute ride to the hospital it takes an HOUR! But don't beat up people who can't get to you.
But what is most amazing is the griping about things like garbage pickup. I mean, COME ON! Let's see, you want all the streets plowed.....and of course all that snow has to go SOMEWHERE....but there's no place to put it so you have to bulldoze it and use front-end loaders to put it into trucks who can't go anywhere because the plows can't get through the streets because there's cars abandoned or parked illegally... and ANYWAY, most city people can WALK to where they absolutely NEED to go.
Now, before you jump down my throat.....I was born and raised in CHICAGO. I remember snowstorms and blizzards that closed that city down for a day or two. But there, people just waited it out and SURPRISE! 2 days later the streets were clear and busses were running, and garbage got picked up (they even plowed the alleys).
Life changes in a bad snowstorm/blizzard. We have gotten so used to doing whatever we want whenever we want, that we have forgotten everything else around us. Somehow, we have gotten the idea that we can do our thing regardless of weather (and, for the most part, we DO) but sometimes you just gotta realize that when it comes down to it, Mother Nature always wins. And when she's winning, just sit back and wait it out. Eventually, everything straightens out.
It snowed in NYC. OK, so it's not normal for NYC to get dumped on. Life gets a bit messed up. But, Gee Whiz, gang....what's with all the whining?
Yeah, I live in the county (my choice).
I live in the SNOW BELT of Ohio.
We get dumped on for 5 months out of the year.
It's not unusual for us to get 1, 2, 3 FEET at a time.
And, yes, we get snowed in.
We ALSO lose power, heat and water.
I didn't hear about THAT from NYC.
I heard how the busses weren't running, the garbage wasn't picked up and EMS/Fire couldn't get through streets.
And I heard the same remarks from CLEVELANDERS when THEY got dumped on.
Well, EXCUUUUUUUSE ME!
I saw the videos. Cars stuck, traffic gridlocked, it was a mess. And I sympathize.
But....HELLO.....
Plows can't plow when there are abandoned cars all over the streets.
Cities have lots and lots of streets, and when it snows THAT hard, the plows can't keep up. Heck, WE have that problem too! and we don't have that many roads. They attempt to keep the main roads open so that Fire/EMS CAN get close enough to people in need and get them to the hospital. And there are times that people die because they "chose the wrong time" to get sick.
As a Firefighter/Paramedic, I know. I know how it feels from BOTH sides. There is NOTHING more frustrating than knowing someone is in bad shape, but you can't get there, or if you DO, you end up getting stuck, or instead of a 5 minute ride to the hospital it takes an HOUR! But don't beat up people who can't get to you.
But what is most amazing is the griping about things like garbage pickup. I mean, COME ON! Let's see, you want all the streets plowed.....and of course all that snow has to go SOMEWHERE....but there's no place to put it so you have to bulldoze it and use front-end loaders to put it into trucks who can't go anywhere because the plows can't get through the streets because there's cars abandoned or parked illegally... and ANYWAY, most city people can WALK to where they absolutely NEED to go.
Now, before you jump down my throat.....I was born and raised in CHICAGO. I remember snowstorms and blizzards that closed that city down for a day or two. But there, people just waited it out and SURPRISE! 2 days later the streets were clear and busses were running, and garbage got picked up (they even plowed the alleys).
Life changes in a bad snowstorm/blizzard. We have gotten so used to doing whatever we want whenever we want, that we have forgotten everything else around us. Somehow, we have gotten the idea that we can do our thing regardless of weather (and, for the most part, we DO) but sometimes you just gotta realize that when it comes down to it, Mother Nature always wins. And when she's winning, just sit back and wait it out. Eventually, everything straightens out.
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